BLAKE LITTON - 3 yo/ Accused: Thomas Presley - Stover/ Morgan Cty/ Springfield MO

The Morgan County sheriff says murder charges are pending against a man and woman in the death of a three year old boy. The two are accused with staging a hit and run accident to cover abuse inflicted on the boy at a home in Stover.

Authorities say inconsistent statements and evidence collected at the scene have lead investigators to believe the boy was beaten at home and then taken out to the highway.


http://www.ktts.com/news/139492313.html

OMG! I hope this is not the latest trend in covering up these crimes against children.

STOVER - A candlelight vigil for a slain three-year-old child drew
fewer than a dozen people Friday night, just hours after police charged
his mother and mother's boyfriend with second-degree murder.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 21-year-old Thomas
Presley admitted to beating Blake Litton to death Thursday morning,
though he originally reported the incident as an accidental hit-and-run
on Highway 135. Police said Litton's mother, Jamie, conspired with
Presley on the cover-up.

The few Morgan County families who heard about the vigil through the
media appeared at Litton's home at 7 p.m. Friday, but no more than 10
people attended the event.

"I'm kind of disappointed in the community," Morgan County resident
Crystal Twenter said. "This [vigil] is supposed to be for that little
guy. And I can't believe no one has showed up."

Twenter's daughter, Lexi, accompanied her to the vigil. Lexi Twenter
said part of her motivation for attending was to fight against child
abuse.

"I'm really disappointed that nobody else is out here trying to stop
child abuse, like I am," Lexi Twenter said. "Maybe [this event] will
help people realize we need to wake up and see what's going on in our community."
http://www.komu.com/news/vigil-for-murdered-stover-child-draws-few-residents-27838/

STOVER, Mo. — A Morgan County couple is accused of staging a
hit-and-run accident to cover up the alleged beating death of a
three-year-old boy.

Thomas J. Presley, 21, of Stover, has been charged with second-degree
murder after he reported that his girlfriend’s son had been struck by a
car on Highway 135 near Buttons Road in Morgan County on Thursday
morning. The boy was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he
was pronounced dead.

Man Charged with Murder Following Staged Hit-and-Run of Child

According to police, based on inconsistencies at the scene,
statements of Thomas Presley and the violent trauma to the head and
torso of the little boy, Presley was further questioned by law
enforcement.

Police say that Presley staged the hit and run to cover up an assault on the boy at Presley’s home.


The boy’s mother, Jamie Ann Litton, 25, has also been charged with
second-degree murder and two counts of felony child endangerment in
connection to the case.

Both Litton and Presley are in custody in the Morgan County Adult Detention Center in lieu of a $1 million cash-only bond.
http://fox4kc.com/2012/02/17/couple-charged-with-murder-in-faked-hit-and-run-of-child/

Tom...I sure hope this doesn't start a new trend. Hopefully since they got caught, other monsters won't try it. But then again, baby beaters are monsters and will do anything to cover their tracks. I hope these pigs are prosecuted to the fullest.

Services will be held Wednesday morning at Campbell-Lewis Funeral
home in Sweet Springs for a little boy prosecutors say was murdered by
his mother and her boyfriend.

Blake Litton was three-years-old. Jamie Ann Litton and Thomas
Presley, both from Stover first told Morgan County investigators the
child had been struck by a hit-and-run driver on Highway 135.

Presley and Litton are charged with second-degree murder and are sitting in the Morgan County Jail under $100,000 bond each.

Court documents show Presley told officers he got mad at Blake for
messing in his pants, and that's when the couple came up with the idea
to stage a hit-and-run.
http://www.ktts.com/news/139620873.html

STOVER, MO. — Hundreds of people attended a vigil to remember a 3-year-old boy who allegedly died after being abused by his mother's boyfriend.

The boyfriend and mother originally told police that Blake Litton of Stover was killed Feb. 16 by a hit-and-run driver.

But 21-year-old Thomas Joseph Presley and 25-year-old Jamie Litton are now charged with second-degree murder. Litton also is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

KSHB-TV reports that organizers of Thursday's vigil and march in Stover were shocked by the turnout. They quickly ran out of 200 child abuse awareness bracelets.

All proceeds from the sales will go toward funeral expenses and medical bills for Blake, who would have turned 4 next week.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120225/NEWS01/302250039/Hundreds-attend-vigil-3-year-old-Missouri-boy

I cannot believe this has happened to my family and am amazed at the response from all over. Thank you for your concern and giving our little angel a voice. I would like to know more on how to get involved in the awareness child abuse...please let me know how I can be a voice.

Hello and WELCOME to J4C RJ!

You have taken the first step in helping bring these cases to light. Now that you are a member take some time and look around at all of the areas we have for your perusal. We began by covering the story of a little girl from Florida and have expanded to include the entire US and more recently countries around the world. We have members from England, New Zealand, Europe and North and South America.

We welcome your contributions by keeping your eyes and ears open for stories of abuse, neglect and murder and posting them here in our NewsRooms. Just follow our format and by all means let us know about any updates on this tragic case that you are so close to. One key to prevention is awareness. The more people that see the reports of these heinous acts the more people will, like youself, be incensed toward action in the communities and states in which they live.

Again, welcome to our site!

More charges have been filed against a Stover man accused of the beating
death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son and making it appears that he
was a hit-and-run victim. A second-degree murder charged had been filed
earlier against Thomas Joseph Presley. Now he’s also charged with
endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse. The boy’s mother
also is charged with second-degree murder. Police say she knew what
happened and went along with Presley’s plan

http://www.missourinet.com/2012/03/06/central-mo-man-faces-more-charges-for-murder-of-3-year-old/

rjlitton wrote:I cannot believe this has happened to my family and am amazed at the response from all over. Thank you for your concern and giving our little angel a voice. I would like to know more on how to get involved in the awareness child abuse...please let me know how I can be a voice.

I am so sorry this horror has happened in your family. Something like this is heartbreaking for strangers to read and learn about. I cannot imagine the devastation on the family members involved.

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for you and other family members who are hurting.

I write a lot of letters and make a lot of phone calls to both state and federal legislatures.

It doesn't seem to do much good in my state (Florida) but it makes me feel better. Our state just refused federal funding for children once again. It's not as if it's saving tax payer money. Just as last year, the money will be awarded to other states.

Education is the first step in preventing child abuse and murders. IMO. Most of the adults abusing children were raised in abusiver households. They seem to place a lessor value on children's lives that the majority of people. If we would put more money into educating these people and taking preventative measures, it would be far better than losing and damaging our children, then filling our prisons with the perpetrators.

Another way to become involved would be to volunteer as a guardian ad litem. You would be a voice for the child.

You could also mentor a child who needs an adult's love and attention. Sometimes single mothers are so busy working to support their children that they don't have time to spend with them.

My prayers are with you.

March 22nd, 2012

Morgan County, Mo. —

The Morgan County judge says investigators are still working on their
final reports in the case involving a Stover man accused of killing his
girlfriend's son. Until the final reports are turned in to the
prosecutor's office, Judge Kevin Schehr said Thomas Joseph (T.J.)
Presley's case will move slowly.

The Morgan County Prosecutor's Office is waiting for the final
investigative reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division
of Drug and Crime Control before scheduling a preliminary hearing for
Presley. Until then, Schehr said the case will appear on the docket
weekly for a case review.

Presley can also waive his rights for a preliminary hearing, which would push the case forward to Morgan County Circuit Court.
Presley, 21, is charged with numerous felonies including second-degree
murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and abuse of a
child resulting in death.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control
is investigating the case in which Presley is accused of beating
three-year-old Blake Litton to death because the little boy had soiled
his pants. Investigators believe that Presley attempted to cover up the
abuse by staging a hit-and-run accident just north of Stover on Route
135 near Buttons Road.

According to probable cause statements, Presley feared being arrested
and jail time if authorities knew the true cause of Blake's injuries.

The Morgan County Sheriff's Department asked the Missouri State Highway
Patrol to assist in the case early on to determine if the hit-and-run
actually happened or if Presley was lying.

Blake's mother Jamie Ann Litton, 25, was also charged with
second-degree murder and two counts of endangering the welfare of child
for her alleged role in failing to tell police the true nature and cause
of Blake's injuries.

Before Presley called 911 about the fraudulent hit-and-run, Presley
exchanged several text messages with Litton informing her about the
abuse. Presley had also told Litton his plan of faking a car accident so
Blake could receive needed medical attention while Presley avoided
prison.

An autopsy revealed Blake had died from numerous injuries including a
lacerated liver and a ruptured blood vessel in his brain. Bruises and
lacerations were visible on Blake's head, neck, torso, buttocks, legs and arms.


http://www.lakenewsonline.com/news/x394115944/Presley-case-moving-slowly